The battle between lemon-lovers and non-lemon-lovers rages on. A lot of people remove the lemon from their water, or push off the the garnish from their plates, while some (like myself) love the sour tingle that results when a bite is taken from the juicy meat of the fruit. There are many pros and cons to this little fruit native of asia. Everything from being great for digestion to their antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-boosting powers, lemons have been said to be very good for you internally. Yes, some downfalls exist such as their acidic nature ripping the enamel from your teeth, which is definitely a hint into the power lemon can have on your everyday home needs. Below are some easy tricks to help you around the house.
Lemon can actually get rid of tough stains on marble.
You probably think of marble as stone, but marble is actually just petrified calcium. This explains it’s absorbency and why it is easily stained and damaged. Those stains can be hard to remove, and sometimes washing doesn’t remove the stain. Advice? Cut a lemon in half, dip the exposed flesh into some table salt, and rub it vigorously on the stain. But do this only as a last resort, because acid can damage marble. Give it a good rinse, and you’re good to go!
Lemon can clean tarnished brass
Have any tarnished brass, copper, or stainless steel? Make a paste of lemon juice and salt (or substitute baking soda or cream of tartar for the salt) and coat the affected area. Let it stay on for 5 minutes, then wash in warm water, rinse, and polish dry. This method is also great for cleaning metal kitchen sinks too. Apply the paste, scrub gently, and rinse.
Need a fresher fridge?
Dab lemon juice on a cotton ball or sponge and leave it in the fridge for several hours. Make sure to toss out any odorous items that might be causing the bad smell.
Keep guacamole and other fresh cut fruits fresher longer
All you need to do is sprinkle a generous amount of fresh lemon juice over your guacamole and it will stay fresh and green. The flavor of the lemon juice is a natural complement to the avocados in the guacamole, so it works out perfectly. If you plan on making a fruit salad along with the guacamole, you can keep it fresh for several hours by squeezing lemon juice on top to prevent browning.
Deodorize your garbage disposal
If your garbage disposal is beginning to make your sink smell yucky, here’s an easy way to deodorize it: Save leftover lemon and orange peels and toss them down the drain. To keep it smelling fresh, repeat once every month.
Bleach delicate fabrics
Ordinary household chlorine bleach can cause the iron in water to precipitate out into fabrics, leaving additional stains. For a mild, stain-free bleach, soak your delicates in a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda for at least half an hour before washing.
Have any other cool tips? Let us know.
Source: http://www.rd.com/home/34-reasons-to-load-up-on-lemons/